MINUTES OF THE ORDINARY PARISH MEETING HELD
MONDAY 12th JANUARY 2026 AT 7:30 pm
AT ST WYSTANS CHURCH, BRETBY
Present: Cllr Toone (Chairman), Cllr Falder, Cllr Ballington, Cllr Meyrick.
In Attendance: Mrs J Storer – Clerk, Cllr Benfield (from 7:43pm onwards), 1 resident
The Chair paid tribute to Cllr Corner following his death on 14th December 2025; his long service as a parish cllr and to the community was thanked.
25/1217 Apologies
Apologies were noted from Cllr Haines and Cllr Lowe, Cllr Benfield sent his apologies as he would be late as he was attending Repton parish council. As a quorum was established, the Chair commenced the meeting.
25/1218 Variation of Order of Business
The order of business was amended to allow reports from Cllr Benfield once he arrives.
25/1219 Declaration of Interests:
Cllrs considered their obligations relating to declaration of interests, no declarations were received.
25/1220 Public Speaking
- Members of the Public and Council to comment on any matter
A resident presented a report on the following matters:
- The pavement along Ashby Road East
- Gullies require cleaning.
- The state of road signage
- Temporary traffic management during road lane closures
Cllrs noted these matters and provided further examples such as cones and signage being left when works have been completed.
- County Council and District Council members to raise any relevant matter.
This will be taken later in the meeting once the Cllrs arrived.
District Cllr Haines had sent an email reporting: –
Postal vote changes – these now need renewing every 3 years. SDDC have sent letters out to those who need to renew.
Podback coffee kerbside collection scheme is ending – apparently due to the expansion of Podback’s national drop-off network. Final kerbside collection week is w/c 2nd February.
c) Parish Council Members declaring an interest other than Disclosable Pecuniary Interest wishing to make representation
None were raised.
25/1221 To approve the Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of the Parish Council held on 10th November 2025
These were circulated, read, approved, and signed as a correct record by Cllr Toone.
7:43pm Cllr Benfield arrived.
Standing Orders were suspended to allow Cllr Benfield to address the meeting.
Cllr Benfield was provided with the resident’s report on highway matters earlier reported in the meeting.
Cllr Benefield reported on the very recent grading of pothole management released by Central Government. Derbyshire is graded as RED, the data used was upto June 2025 and since then improvements have been made however the recent bad weather has reopened many potholes. Part of this is due to poor management of the drainage systems which caused water to lie on the roads. Cllr Benfield will obtain a report to check the scheduled drainage works.
Highway budget for 2026/27 for Bretby Parish focuses on bus shelter upgrades along the A511 to install real time displays; no road repairs are scheduled in the next financial year.
The highway verges have only been mown once in the year and Cllr Benfield will request for mowing to be undertaken more frequently.
The lights at Bretby Nurseries are distracting motorists and a notification has been passed to the Highways Dept to undertake an investigation into the strength, direction and number of lights t the Nurseries.
On 17th January 2026, Cllr Benefield and the District Cllrs are holding a surgery in Repton Village Hall.
Further congestion will occur when the A38 and A50 repairs are undertaken – these are anticipated to last 18 months and this raised concerns not only of the volume of traffic being diverted along the country lanes but also the impact upon and the deterioration of road surfaces.
The Chair returned to Standing Orders.
25/1222 To determine which items if any, should be taken with the public excluded.
No items were deemed necessary to be taken with the public excluded other than that listed on the agenda.
25/1223 To receive the Chairman’s Announcements
The Chairman had contributed an article to the Church Newsletter.
25/1224 To receive the Report of the Clerk
This had previously been circulated, and no matters were raised.
25/1225 Governance
a) Risk Register update
There are no recommended changes to the risk register.
b) General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR)
No changes are recommended and there are no reports of any breaches.
c) Parish Council elections, vacancies, and co-options
There are three vacancies on the parish council, and no expressions of interest have been received. An appeal was made in the parish magazine, but no responses have been received.
f) To adopt the IT policy in readiness to be 2.2AAA compliant
The policy was rewritten by Cllr Meyrick and brought to the meeting.
RESOLVED: to accept the policy without change.
The Council noted the Clerk is a remote worker and the parish council does not have an office.
RESOLVED a lockable cupboard will be purchased up to a value of £100 for the safe storage of parish council documents.
25/1226 Drainage, flooding, and highway issues
Knights Lane is now experiencing standing water, again due to the inability of water to drain due to blocked culverts and drains.
1. DALC – Various circulars and information
2. DCC – Proposed road closure for Repton Road, Hartshorne to facilitate Open Reach pole testing. The road closure will only be in place between 0930-1430hrs each day.
3. DCC – Derbyshire’s Holiday Activity and Food Programme: December 2025
All Cllrs have been circulated with the information prior to the meeting.
25/1228 Finance
(a) Accounts for Payment
Accounts passed for payment
| BACS | Staffing – Dec | £163.98 |
| BACS | HMRC – Staffing NI and PAYE (Dec) | £44.00 |
| BACS | DCC – Pension contribution (Dec) | £57.89 |
| Charges | Service charges (Nov) | £4.25 |
| BACS | Staffing – Jan | £ 169.34 |
| BACS | HMRC – Staffing NI and PAYE (Jan) | £ 58.40 |
| BACS | DCC – Pension contribution (Jan) | £ 76.70 |
| Charges | Service charges (Dec) | £4.25 |
For approval
| Mrs J Storer | Expenses | £33.80 |
| SDDC | Service litterbin for the year 2024-25 | £236.08 |
Money Received
| Deposit interest | Dec 2025 | £ 1.48 |
Balance at bank @ 31.12.25
Deposit account £3,100.07– interest rate 0.70%
Current account £6,434.52
(b) To consider any requests for funds made under S137 – none received
(c) To set the budget for 2026/27 and set the precept.
The Clerk had circulated the amended draft of the 2026/27 budget with the meeting papers, together with an actual to budget report for the period to 31st December 2025. The actual to budget report was accepted.
RESOLVED to accept the budget for 2026/27.
RESOLVED to set the precept for 2026/27 at £6,335.00.
25/1229. NJC pay award 2025/26 – to apply the pay award and arrears due from 1/4/25 as per the NJC agreement at 3.25%.
RESOLVED to apply the pay award of 3.25% back dated to 1st April 2025.
25/1230 To consider Planning Applications
DMPA/2025/1422: The erection of a two-storey side extension and single storey rear extension at 19 Ashby Road East, Bretby, DE15 0PS (05/12/25)
RESOLVED: Noted, the time for comments has passed.
25/1231 Consultations
SDDC – Local Plan Part 2 Review Issues and Options consultation on Monday 24th November. The consultation will close on the 30th of January.
East Midlands Combined County Authority: Mayor’s Transport Plan Consultation – no comments were made.
25/1232 Items for information only
(a) To receive reports from Meetings attended.
Parish and Town Council Liaison Forum: 8th December 2025 at Matlock – no person from the parish council attended.
SDDC flood liaison meeting – Thursday 20th Nov 2025 at 10am-12, via TEAMS- no person attended from the parish council.
Cllrs commended the Clean Team for the work undertaken recently to clear rubbish from along Watery Lane. A thank you will be sent to the Clean Team.
A resident voluntarily litter picks along Knights Lane and Geary Lane and this resident too was commended.
(b) Notification of Forthcoming meeting – Area Forum dates to include
Cllr Ballington will attend the DALC session on the reintroduction of beavers.
(c) Training Sessions – All DALC circulars have been provided to all Cllrs
Cllrs are still to complete the training relating to Prevention of harassment and to provide certificates to the Clerk.
25/1233 Date of next meeting
The next Ordinary parish council meeting will be held on TUESDAY 17th MARCH 2026 at 7.30pm at St Wystan’s Church, Bretby.
This will also be the Annual Meeting of the Parish which will commence at 7:15pm
There being no further business, the Chairman thanked everyone for attending and closed the meeting at 8:27 pm.